On Tuesday, I led the last of five poetry taster workshops at Battersea Park Library. Considering I first started planning these with the library staff nearly two years ago, this feels like quite an achievement. We’d aimed to start in early spring 2020, but we all know what happened.
Personally, it’s also an achievement, as I’ve not run many workshops, and still struggle with that inner voice that tells me I’m a fraud. So a big pat on the back for me. And guess what? I really enjoyed the sessions and it seems the participants did too! We had some good discussions about the sample poems I brought to each session, and it was great to hear the different ways individuals responded to the exercises. There was also quite a lot of laughter. Phew! Writing poetry can be fun, as well as serious.
I spent a lot of time planning the sessions and searching for poems to share. All of this enriches my own practice, of course. I scribbled away during the free writing and other exercises in each session too, so have some material of my own to work on. Our librarian has offered to display some of the poems written as part of these sessions in the library, which will be rewarding to see. And judging by feedback from my attendees, there is definitely appetite for further poetry writing sessions.
After Tuesday’s session, I spent a bit of time reflecting on how it all went and what I can learn form the experience. My top ‘takeaway’ has to be that I need to learn to trust and have confidence in my ideas. Second on the list: an hour is not very long!
I must also say a big thank you to Troy, one of Wandsworth Libraries’ staff and an accomplished poet in his own right, who assisted with the sessions, keeping an eye on timings and generally being on hand for anything I needed, as well as offering his own poetic insights! Long live libraries and poetry!
Hilaire 
If only I lived nearer. I agree, an hour is too short, but some gems will still have emerged. Fraud? So not!!! Cx
Thank you Claire! xx
Well done Hilaire. I was always nervous and full of self doubt before running workshops.
Thanks Peter!
That ‘s brilliant… really surprised you suffer from the self doubt thing .💞 you are such a good poet. Does everyone I wonder? I’ve managed to keep my pop in poetry group going on zoom for two years now, but still feel a fraud, perhaps it just goes with the territory💞
Thanks Ann! You may be right – poets live in so much doubt! xx
Hilaire, well done! I’ve only ever led one workshop and although I think it went OK I did a ridiculous amount of prep but still felt a complete fraud! x
That’s so interesting to hear Robin! Why do we have so little confidence in our abilities? x
Personally, although I’ve plenty of teaching experience it’s either been in a subject I was trained to teach (physical exercise), or (in the case of internet marketing in the early/mid 2000s) in which I had a particular expertise that few others could offer at the time. When it comes to poetry, I feel I’ve had no training in how to do it or how to teach it, but I admire those who are able and willing to do it and who make a good job of it. x
Good one. Self awareness is our friend. Self consciousness is not invited to the party. x
Thanks Mel!